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Welcome to Am I Infected

IMPORTANT UPDATE
Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Welcome to the "Am I Infected?" POZ forum.

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and future support of the best online support service for people living with,
affected by and at risk for HIV.

As a person wouldn't have any idea they are experiencing ARS if they didn't have symptoms, any ARS question is indeed symptom related. Hence Matty's answer.

I've never heard of ARS occuring later than four weeks after infection has taken place. It is VERY important that you and anyone else reading this thread understands that not everyone experiences a noticable ARS. That is one of the big reasons we don't discuss symptoms: to concentrate on symptoms could lead someone who has had a real risk to not test on the basis of not having symptoms. ARS can range from ending up in hospital to not noticing a damn thing. So forget about symptoms and forget about ARS, ok?

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Hi, I had an STD tests 12 days after exposure, is there a certain window period for other STDs as well? Or the 12 days is good enough?

Also, it shows 3 results - 1) Chlamydia Screening (non reactive) 2) Syphilis (non reactive) 3) Gram Stain (specimen-urethral discharge, result - no intracellualr and extracellular gram-negative diplococci seen). The doctor said it was all negative, I didn't notice however at that time about herpes, and other possible stds. My question is - would those other stds fall on the Gram Stain Tests? (they basically got blood, urine and sample discharge from penis, i dont know where gram stain fall under).

I was focused on HIV questions that time I failed to check and ask about the std test results.

LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safelyin a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT ARIDE!!!

For most of the STIs, ten days to two weeks is fine, except for syphilis which shares a time-frame with hiv as AC already mentioned. However, if a person is indeed infected with syphilis, it will normally show up on the tests sooner - usually by six weeks, just like hiv.

Herpes is a virus and as far as I am aware, this one isn't usually checked for during routine STI panels - mainly because a huge percent of the population will test positive. This test is usually only performed if the patient is having herpes-like lesions or if the test is specifically requested.

And just to remind you, this is an hiv website and you did not have a risk for hiv infection.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Thanks Ann, do you think i have to get another std tests or the 12 day post exposure is fine? Would syphillis have symptoms at all? I didnt have any symptoms although i currently have couple of canker sores in my mouth and throat. I did NOT do any oral sex to anyone although I had a lot of deep kissing with multiple partners. Or would stress be a cause?

Also, it's almost 12 weeks post my "NO risk" exposure based on your evaluation. With your help I was able to get through this point, thank you! I am contemplating to get an hiv test for peace of mind... but if ok to ask, has there anyone here that turned positive which you evaluated as No risk or low risk scenario? Ballpark figure, how many have you evaluated so far on your daily entries here? Am sorry to ask this, I'm just tinkering with the odds (say zero positive out of the 2000 plus no risk evaluation), somehow I am in a point of letting go of the test, just need to convince myself more.

No, I've never seen someone we told had no risk end up positive from the situation that carried no risk. I haven't a clue how many no risk evaluations I've participated in now, but I've been on this website since 2001 - far too many people and questions to keep track. Put it this way, if I were putting notches on the proverbial bedpost, the bedpost would be dust by now.

Syphilis shows itself in lesions, but as they are painless and sometimes in a place that can't be seen, not everyone has noticable symptoms. If you're worried about syphilis, get tested.

If you're worried about the canker sores in your mouth, see your doctor or dentist. We cannot possibly diagnose them here.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts